Final Fantasy 8

Fire Cavern - The Field Test

Items:
4x G-Returners, 1x Ifrit's Card

Magic:
Fire - on the right path of the three-way path of the Cavern.

GF:
Ifrit

Save Pts:
n/a

Fire Cavern
Red Bat: Thunder*, Scan*, {Drain}
Bomb: Fire, [Fira], {Firaga}, {Meltdown}
Buel: Fire*, Thunder*, Blizzard*, {Death}
Ifrit: Fire*, Cure*, Scan (BOSS)

At the path leading to the Cavern, Quistis is prompt you a question whether she have teaches you about Squall's Renzoukuken. Pick the 1st option to proceed. Next head to the entrance. BTW, you will also be given a Junction Tutorial on junction magic to your character..

You will find two Garden Faculties. Talk to them and they are asked you whether you are ready or not. Pick 1st option to say yes and you will see the SeeD salutation. Now pick your time limit. It is pretty easy, you are allow to choose between the intervals from 10 ~ 40 minutes. Choose between 20 minutes and 30 minutes. Quistis will be your support. Make sure that you have a couple of Phoenix Downs and Potions.

The layout of pathway is rather straightforward.. but with a nagging Quistis tagging along. Just simply walk until you saw the path being split into three. The right path allows you to find another Draw Points, draw magic [Fire] from it. Now here is another important battle tip: The monsters here are mostly weak against Cold. Be careful of Bombs as if you hit too much, It will use a move called Suicide which will perish with one of your characters! From the three way path, head back and make a move to north. You will find a deep pit.. Suddenly a volcano-like eruption begins.. A GF bursts out! It is your first BOSS Fight!

Boss 1 - Ifrit
Status: Level 6
HP: 1,068
Description: A Fire G.F uses Fire Magic. It's a strong opponent but as it is a part of Garden's exams, not impossible to defeat it.
Facts: Weak against Cold/Ice. Absorbs Fire.
Draw: Fire*, Cure*, Scan
Attacks: Fire*, (Claw Swipe), (Jumper Claw Dive)
Win: 4x G-Returner, Ifrit's Card, 20 AP

Ifrit's Data Info

  [||||||||||||||| < HP > |||||||||||||||]
   [||||||||||||| STR  DEF |||]
               [| INT  SPI |||||||||||||||]
                [ DEX  EVA

Strategy
Well, our first BOSS turns out to be an GF... BTW, GFs talks! First of all, don't bother to scan and I have already did it for you ^_^;. This BOSS is quite easy.. as remember this phrase "Same elemental monsters absorbs same elements." That means the Fire spells which can be drawn from the BOSS is quite useless.. First of all, summon GF Shiva [which easily inflicit up 300+ HP damage maximum at Level 2 with Boost ability

The Ifrit will say "They have Shiva?" upon the first summon of GF Shiva. Blizzard does quite a handy sum of damage to the BOSS [about 103+ HP damage.. if your character's magic strength is 16+]. The Ifrit will also says "hmm.. not bad for humans" upon first casting of Blizzard. The only strengths of this BOSS is the following techniques:

"Impudent Humans!" --> The Ifrit will perform the "Jumper Claw Dive" which is my name for it. The Ifrit will leap up high into the mid-air and come slashing down with a claw swipe.. does about 100+ damage.

"Fire" --> it does approximately 50+ HP damage. Fire-element.

This battle is not that tough.. as you can draw Cure [which is a healing magic] from the BOSS. If you want to play safe, I would suggest that you have either Quistis and Squall have the Item as their fourth command. After the battle, the Ifrit will says "Ugh.. I underestimate Shiva.. I'll join you" Therefore, now you have another GF! Note that BOSS Fights does not give your HP and their HP is variable based on Squall's Level. I have battle the Ifrit on Level 9.

After the battle, Quistis will teach you something new.. it is about Elemental Arts [which is *very* useful later in the game.] Notice that the time limit has stopped... here is another difference. Junction Ifrit to one character and has Blizzard junction to the chaarcter's Elemental Attack. Exit the cavern and you will find the Garden Faculties are gone. Head back to Alcauld Plains and get some training for your new GF or if you want head back to Balamb Garden.

Back to the table of contents